By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC - Visiting Niles swept a Big 16 Conference West Division doubleheader from Dowagiac Tuesday afternoon at Rotary Park.
The Vikings, ranked No. 8 in the latest poll, won the opening game 16-6 and then took the nightcap, 17-0.
The win sets up a showdown with St. Joseph on May 17. Both Niles and St. Joseph are undefeated in the West Division.
The Vikings are the defending West Division champions.
Dowagiac (8-12, 1-5 SMAC West) jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the Vikings in the bottom of the first, but the Vikings knotted the score with two runs in the top of the second and then took the lead for good in the top of the fourth with two more runs.
The Vikings (17-3, 6-0 SMAC West) erupted for seven runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and four in the seventh to turn the game into a rout.
Dowagiac scored a single run in the sixth and three in the bottom of the seventh to complete the scoring.
The Vikings pounded out 20 hits off of numerous Chieftain pitchers.
Josh Henry had two doubles for the Vikings, who also got a home run from Matt Richardson and a double and a triple from Aaron Ralston.
Richardson was also the winning pitcher as he worked five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with five strike outs and three walks.
Jesse Cox started and took the loss for the Chieftains. Cox allowed eight runs on 12 hits with two strike outs and a walk over four innings.
Dowagiac finished with nine hits, led by Jordan Huey's double. David Stuppy had two hits for the Chieftains.
In the nightcap Niles collected 16 hits off.
Richardson picked up his second home run of the day, while Cory Coquillard doubled and tripled.
Jesse Sallak went the distance allowing three hits with seven strike outs and one walk.
Scott Wilkinson worked three innings for Dowagiac and took the loss. Wilkinson allowed nine runs on eight hits with a strike out and a walk.
Offensively for the Chieftains Mike Kasper, Jamie Simpson and Rob Duszynski each had a single.
First game
Niles 020 271 4 - 16 20 1
Dowagiac 200 011 3 - 6 9 1
Jesse Sallak (W), Jesse Cox (L, 1-4)
2B: Josh Henry (N), Jesse Sallak (N), Jordan Huey (D)
3B: Aaron Ralston (N)
HR: Matt Richardson
Second game
Niles 603 44 - 17 16 2
Dowagiac 000 00 - 0 3 3
Jesse Sallak (W), Scott Wilkinson (L, 1-3)
2B: Cory Coquillard (N)
3B: Coquillard (N)
HR: Matt Richardson (N)